Di suffered a stroke whilst riding Ari during a horse lesson near her home in Buxton, Victoria in May 2013.

Di says she remembers feeling strange and Ari immediately sensed that she was unwell.

"Ari, she was feeling really reluctant in going on and my friend said to me, I think you better get off and I couldn't get off because I had no feeling down my leg and my arm, so my friend dragged me off and the rest is history."

Di says her friend Tam performed CPR on her whilst waiting for the ambulance to arrive and Ari stood quietly by Di's side.

"I can't really remember it at all... once the ambulance people took me off, she became really distressed and Tam had to sort of restrain her."

Di suffered a large bleed about the size of a mandarin and her skull had to be opened to relieve pressure surrounding her brain.

"They felt maybe that I might not live, I think it was touch and go for quite some time."

Di spent three weeks at the Royal Melbourne Hospital in a high dependency ward followed by ten weeks in rehab.

Di says she had English lessons, physiotherapy and occupational therapy but visiting Ari on the weekends was her biggest motivation.

"My son brought in a calendar for me and he had printed out different photographs of Ari for each month, he used that for me as motivation because I just desperately wanted to get back and ride her on."

Di is now able to ride Ari again after receiving strong support from her husband Chris, her children and Tam.

"Tam has been fantastic and she comes each week and gives me lessons... I've had to learn how to get on because I have got no strength in my leg."

"We hoist me up onto a platform and then I drag my leg over her"

Di says 2013 was an extraordinary year for her and she is grateful to be able to ride Ari again.

"She's just so quiet and patient... I get such a high in just being with Ari and it's so special for me and I'm sure it's special for her too."